The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-11
BossINo THE BULL.


The Western Rural says; The ques-
ton Of handling bulls appears to be up
for discussion. All who have theories
and practice which seem to be success
full must never forget that there are
exceptions to every rule. All bulls are
not alike. But the majority are enough
alike to make one rule applicable to all
Of them and that Is the practice OF
kindness and firmness. A bull is nat
urally a little cranky" We think
that word fits his bullship exccllently.
He is a good fellow, as a rule. as long
as he Is not ruflled. He is like good
many men, can be got along with as
long as he is not crossed. Kindness
is. therefore, indicated. II requires
very little of unkind treatment to spoil
q bull. We have had bull so changed
by rough treatment at the hands OF
men who had charge of HIM for week
or two that We have been utterly as
tonished to see the difference in the
disposition of the animal. Unkind
treatment maddens the animal, and
mad man or mad bull is not very
pleasant and usually not very safe
companion. The bull Is ready to re-
sent such treatment and he will do it
on the first favorable opportunity. And
when the battle begins if the man has
courage equal to his brutality and is so
armed that he can whip the bull, 1t is
probable that the man will ever after
be recognized as the master. But the
trouble with the brutal man is that he
usually lacks courage. He is brave
man while there is no danger. He is
brave enough to strike the bull while
he is in the stable and the man is on
the other side of tho manger. But
give the bull a chance and the man
will show the white feather. II re-
quires but very little time for such n
man to make a naturally gentle bull
perfectly fcrocious. We have always
taken pains to pet the bull, but at the
same time TO give him to understand
that he was subordinate and that we
were the master.
But the bull must be watched. 1t is
folly for man to be careless in hand
ling the bull. Their ''crankiness some-
times shows itself without apparent
provocation. Bulls that have always
been gentle will suddenly develope vi
ciousness, and do damage, and hence
the necessity Of great care. But expe-
pience teaches that kindness and firm
ness will do great deal to insure peace
and safety. II the bull becomes vicious
and can not be tanned" by the more
common methods, either his horns had
better come of. or he had better be
slaughtered. 1t is folly to expose ones
life continually under such circumstan-
ces. It is affirmed by Mr.. Haaff and
others who have tried dehorning that
the process mellows the disposition
wonderfully. Unless this can be ae-
complished the removal of the horns
from vicious bull would only have
partial effect, for If an animal should
be determined to use his head for Of
fensive purposes, horns or no horns,
the man would stand very little chance.
We publish in this issue communica-
ton upon the subject. Our correspond
dent calls the process of subduing a
bull, described by recent correspond
emit, as brutal. We do not propose to
pass Judgment upon that case, but an
act is brutal or otherwise in accordance
with its purpose. 1t is brutal to cut off
mans leg, If it should be done for
no othe@ purpose than to deprive him
of his leg. But If it is done to save his
life, it is merciful. 1t is brutal to whip
child, if it is simply done to hurt
him; and wise, loving father dislikes
to strike his child above everything.
But sometimes it is necessary to do it.
We must take all things into considera-
ton when deciding upon the brutality
of an act.
A writer to that paper comments on
the same subject in this way: A recent
correspondent says all bulls are vicious
by nature. Nay, nay, he is mistaken.
there. Only fear will keep them safe.
That is so, but no such brutality as he
describes is necessary to instil this fear
into this noble beast which in my esti-
nation deserves the title king Of the
We talked with one of the
prominent Short-horn breeders of ILL
nois once and he said in substance as
follows: IF man abuses q bull every
time it playfully losses its head. or paws
and bellows AROUND where he is. he is
only making that bull be ever on his
guard and il it should attack him 1t will
90 in for killing him and is most likely
to take him unawares and come of vic
tor" Anyone that has common sense
can see that it is as natural for bull to
paw and bellow as 1t is for birds to sing.
My way is this: When a young bull or
old one either, bows its neck, snorts or
paws in manner that would imply that
s.la xuao a h;roar man than Won " inst